Myron and Puck

We just wanted to share a letter that was  written by one of our clients about his experience with CWAC.

"When I was referred to Cathy King's organization, Canines with a Cause (CWAC), I was looking for a dog which would help me cope with my PTSD. I have suffered from severe PTSD symptoms and knew that animals provide many helpful things to vets like me. Also, I did already have a dog named Timmy who is 14 years old and showing signs of deteriorating health and was losing his zest for life. Aware that he was likely to pass away in the near future, I feared that losing his companionship while living alone would be a devastating change. I felt that if I had another companion that I have bonded with, that event would be less painful. Also, there was a chance that bringing a new young dog into Timmy's life could bring to him new vitality.

Puck is a little Chihuahua like dog. He was very shut-down when I got him. It didn't take long for him to open up in my home with just me and Timmy. I was very careful to only show him love and patience so as to not set him back. When his personality revealed itself as he felt safe, I gave him the name Puck from Shakespeare's misunderstood and mischievous character from one of his plays.

As for a help for help coping with my PTSD, animals like my dogs and even the horses I work with are always about being in the moment. PTSD is an illness that rudely takes one out of the moment into a painful past. Anything that help keep one in the present or helps bring one back to the present when in a dark place is of great help.

Thank you for your grant to Canines With a Cause for food and supplies for dogs like Puck and Timmy, they make a big difference in the lives of veterans like me.

Sincerely,

Myron"

Myron and Puck in class.

Iams Home for the Holidays

http://www.iams.com/pet-adoption/home-for-the-holidays

HELP CWAC GET SPONSORED TO THE BARKWORLD CONFERENCE!

Canines With A Cause is a Salt Lake City based non-profit that rescues dogs at risk of euthanasia and pairs them with the men and women that have served our country, most of whom suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Please read more about CWAC on our website. I am here begging, PLEADING to get sponsored to attend the BarkWorld 2012 National "Petworking" Conference. I would love to find out more tricks and tips as to getting more fosters so we can continue to expand, resulting in saving perfectly good companion dogs from over populated shelters. There is so much that I don't know about how to use social  media to help us and would appreciate it SO much. 

"PAW-LLEEEAASSEEE PICK CANINES WITH A CAUSE!!"- Hank (pictured below)

Hank the beautiful boy pictured above is one of our "Happy Tails"- You can read more about him and his dad on one of 
our blog posts. 

GIVEAWAY!!

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

CWAC is doing our first giveaway! We have some pretty awesome Brett Michaels doggy swag to give away AANNNDD a "who rescued who" CWAC t-shirt! There are 4 photos because two of them are for little dogs (the clothes) and the other two are for a bigger dog (leash+collar). Here's how this happens!

First: you MUST be our Facebook friend! It gets you the most points.

Second: if you want additional points you can tweet about CWAC on Twitter (@cwacUtah)or tell your friends about us on Facebook (you must tag us so it shows up on our FB and Twitter) The more you tweet and FB to or about us the more points you get!

IT'S THAT EASY!!

Here's what you can win! Please note you'll only get ONE of the items-the photos are showing the options! GET TO IT!!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Helping CWAC

So as always CWAC would love your support! I'm going to compile all the ways you can help in one post! Convenient huh?!

As I'm sure most of you see on a weekly basis posts about Strut Your Mutt and how we REEAALLLYYY want you all to strut with us.. Here goes again- On September 22, 2012 at 9am in Liberty Park (SLC,UT) hundreds of people and dogs will strut their stuff in support of their favorite rescue or shelter. A $30 registration fee (which goes to CWAC) gets you signed up to join our pack so you can receive donations from friends, family and coworkers on your behalf. If you're not interested/able to join our pack, please support one of our pack members! If you want to support CWAC but live out of state or aren't able to come you can join our "virtual" pack! You can still receive donations! Simply click on the photo below to join the fun!

CWAC has been accepted as a "pet affiliate" with Modern Dog Magazine and through this link we will get 50% of the cost of the magazine subscription!! Hey, it all adds up! Click the photo below to order your subscription, and while you're at it order a few up as gifts for people!

For the month of July CWAC has been chosen as the Global Giving.org's project of the month!! You can donate there!


Adopt A Shelter is a great site where you can do all of your online shopping and a certain percentage of your purchase goes to us! Need a gift card from Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Amazon, Old Navy, PetCo, Petsmart, plus MANY more? It's really simple, you don't have to create log-in or anything! Just go to the Adopt A Pet website, and click "SHOP NOW", you're already linked up through CWAC if you follow the link provided.

CWAC also has a Fundrazr (through PayPal) account set up where you can donate whenever the moment strikes you!


We understand that times are tough for many people so we greatly appreciate ANY support your are able to offer. If we were able to get even half of our Facebook friends to donate $5 that would add up to $1,625!!! Every little bit helps and all donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Where are they now?

Two CWAC dogs now in training for flyball

These are two rescue dogs who are showing the world that just because they didn't come from sporting dog families (that we know of) they are going to try their hardest at being the best of the best!

Kosmo

Kosmo ( previously known as Miles) came to CWAC from San Bernadino, CA with another little of puppies dubbed the "Pixar Puppies". Wild guess as to where we got their names? Yes, Pixar movies. After being in a foster home for about 3 weeks Kosmo met his new dad who heard about him from a fellow dog sporting friend. Fast forward two and half months- Kosmo has officially started his training in being a flyball dog. 

Halo

Halo was part of the "Fab Five"  from the West Valley Animal Shelter we got in March. All we know was that she had been picked up as a stray. One of our trainers (Astrid Smith) along with myself went to WVAS to assess some dogs to be taken into the CWAC training program. Halo went straight into foster with Astrid because she could bare to leave her in a shelter environment any longer. Again, fast forward 3 months and Halo is showing her stuff on that flyball field. Along with Kosmo, Halo has just begun her long training process to compete in the face paced team sport of flyball!!

A HUGE shout out to the Utah Tail Blazers- Utah's funnest flyball team- for letting me come watch their practice and snap a few (300) photos! Visit them on Facebook. 

If you and your pup want to give flyball a go, Astrid Smith has a class starting! Shoot her an email to find out when and where!

BlogPaws 2012

BlogPaws Mania!!

So I recently attended the BlogPaws "Pet Blogging and Social Media Conference" here in Salt Lake and it really hit me at how badly I'd been neglecting the blog! I learned some great tips and tricks as to how our blog can help CWAC in the big picture (exposure). So I here I am brainstorming some ideas on what to write about to reach a greater number of people and hopefully get a following. I think at this point I can only dream to get the number of followers as some of the attendees at this conference. We are extremely grateful to Doodie Pack,  Walk In Sync harnesses, Fresh Pet dog food, Petsmart and Natural Balance for all of the awesome swag! We will put it to excellent use.

It is soon, but we are looking forward to working with Kristin (spelled the RIGHT way!) at Doodie Packs in using her packs as our service dogs vests. These packs have pouches for dogs to carry their own water bottles, poop bags, treats, etc. Molly loved wearing hers around the conference! Unfortunately the photos I snapped were terrible.

We are also looking forward to working with Alicia at Walk In Sync dog harnesses for the dogs in our program! The harnesses themselves are excellent but the leashes are FABULOUS! See those little grips her hands are on in the photo?! UH-MAZING!

Both Kristin and Alicia were exretemly helpful and seemed excited in working with Canines With a Cause!

The CWAC-ettes!

We would like to proudly introduce you to Alice's puppies, all have been named!

Strut Your Mutt

Get Your Strut On!! 

When: September 22, 2012
Where: Liberty Park

This year CWAC has put together a "pack" for the strut!! Join our team and receive donations!! Your registration will come to CWAC as well!!

Go to our SYM page to join our DOG PACK and start receiving those donations!!

If you are unable to participate in the Salt Lake Strut Your Mutt you can do a virtual strut!!

NAME THAT PUPPY!!!

We would like to introduce you to Alice's beautiful babies!!! There are 6 girls and 2 boys. (one of the girls is not pictured) If you would like to participate in the naming contest, head on over to Facebook, like us, sharing us would be great but not required, and click on the photo album "Alice and her beautiful puppies" The names with the most likes in the comments section will be the winner!!

Be consistent!

Being consistent is very important in dog training and behavior modification. Being unpredictable will create a confused dog. Sometimes we let the dog jump up and sometimes we don't, is just a small example of a problem behavior we create.

What NOT to do:

• Be inconsistent all the time, but not always and don't do the same thing more then twice, only once in a while. Surprise your dog with different rules.
• Use more then one command for one behavior. Come, could also be "get here", "now", "this instant".
• Every human in the household should use a different word so the dog really learns better English, faster.
• Don't enforce rules when you are to tired and change them at your convenience.
• Every member of the household should have a different rule for the same behavior.

What you SHOULD do:

Consistency in dog training will always make a behaviour more reliable. Consistency means that your dog will be able to predict what is expected of them in certain situations. This can only happen through practice that is regular and purposeful.

Have a goal in mind that you are working towards. Within this process will be many small steps towards this larger goal. If you have a good idea of these little steps and the larger behavioural goal, your training will have consistency. 


Enjoying your training will also impact on consistency. The method of training you use should feel good for you. If you feel good training your dog, you will be more likely to practice. If you find that you are becoming frustrated with your training, stop and move on to something that is easy and enjoyable for your and your dog. Tricks are a great way to diffuse a stressful training session, you and your dog will have fun but in essence it is still training.

Benefits of Halti's and harnesses

Are you having difficulties with your dog taking YOU for a walk?! Don't worry, we've all been there! However there is light at the end of the tunnel! Check out what Astrid Smith of A Dog's Journey has to say that will help you out! 

Reasons to buy a Halti or easy walk harness

Some of the training tools I like to use are either Haltis (or Gentle Leaders) or Easy Walk Harnesses.

HALTI:

PICTURE FROM HERE

EASY WALK HARNESS:

Picture from PetCo

They are training tools that take away pressure from the neck and are easy to use for the whole family including children. Yanking a dog on regular collars or choke chains you could permanently damage their trachea, thyroid gland and/or esophagus. Other injuries that can occur are: sprained neck, foreleg paralysis, laryngeal leg paralysis, hind leg ataxia.

I have heard trainers call it a gimmick, however they have not used it properly and don't understand how it works.

The Halti helps re-focus the dogs attention to the handler. You can not achieve this with any collar without putting much more force on the dogs neck.

The Easy Walk Harness clips in the front of the chest on a dog and puts gentle pressure on the shoulders taking away the force of the pull. Jerking, popping or yanking a dog is not necessary, therefore making training less stressful for both the handler and the dog. Being able to walk more then one dog becomes more manageable, too.

Yes, Head Halters and no pull harnesses are training tools, however, they can be used indefinitely as a collar alternative for dogs with injuries to the trachea from choke chains, prong collars or incorrect use of regular collars.

You get what you pay for

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Like me, you’ve probably heard this expression many times before. It’s a generally accepted principle that the more we pay for something, the more worth the money it really is. As a small business owner I am almost constantly asking myself if my clients receive their money’s worth, and recently it was this question that led me to a new wrinkle on the age old idea.

The next time your dog wedges his head underneath your arm to get your attention, or you respond to her whining by opening the kennel door, or you scold her for jumping exuberantly when you arrive home, ask yourself the following question: Have I somehow been paying my dog for this behavior? Do I occasionally/sometimes/always compensate my dog for this unwanted behavior with the most valuable currency, my attention? If your answer is yes, there’s no need to despair. It’s relatively simple to rewire our dogs’ behavioral tendencies by paying them for the behaviors we want instead of those we don’t.

Just what exactly does this mean? Our attention is one of the most reinforcing things to our dogs. When a dog realizes that a behavior like barking or jumping can often lead to interaction with you, it will regularly and predictably offer that behavior. So if there are things in your dog’s behavioral repertoire that you wish there weren’t, find the ways in which you or your family provide reinforcement for that behavior and stop it. At the same time, notice when your dog is doing the things you want and offer the same reinforcement for those behaviors. You’ll likely find that your dog willingly turns the unwanted behaviors off because they no longer serve him, and naturally offers the behaviors you want because they’re the things that get your dog what it wants.

Make an effort to catch your dog being good and reward these moments with the attention and affection it craves, and everybody wins. After all, we should get what we pay for, shouldn’t we?

Shaun Woodard, CPDT-KA

Happy Tails- Doc, Mary, Hank, and Buddy

We would like to share with you Doc Young's story and how he came about with not one, but two dogs from Canines With a Cause! 

"CPL D.R. "Doc" Young, USMC Crash Fire & Rescue (1972-75) Vietnam Era Veteran, DoD Federal Fire Fighter/Captain (1975-1996), Fire & Safety Officer / Correctional Sgt (1997-2000)

I know only too well how precious life is, and having a second chance in life.  Life Saving and Protecting of Life carried into my daily off duty life as well.  Making sacrifices and giving of yourself to help others unconditionally, is how I feel about others, family and our pets.   Pet Companions who love us unconditionally in return, asking nothing of us, only to be loved, protected and cared for.

Experiencing career related disabilities for many years, Canines, Felines, Ferrets & Cockatiels have been a part of my everyday life, bringing joy and comfort mentally and physically.

My wife Mary & I, over the years have adopted many Canines & Feline's needing a second chance.  And after recently losing Poke (Queensland Heeler & Catahoula Leopard mix) of 11 years, we lost Acacia Embers (Dalmatian from Dalmatian Rescue in CA) of 10 years, although we have 2 Felines George & Janome, our home was incomplete.

Our animals are our Children, Mary herself a cancer survivor also knows the meaning of a second chance, and I felt was ready to experience a new life in our home and I went online to PetFinder and saw Hank, an Australian Shepherd Husky mix.  A quick e-mail to Mary at work sharing a picture of Hank and his information, soon Mary was in touch with Canines With A Cause.  After work that day Mary went directly to CWAC to see Hank in person and fell in love with Hank.  We adopted Hank 25 Jan.

We understand Hank was found by the Founder Cathy King of CWAC, loose on the streets of Heber, UT.  We learned that Hank was about 5 months old when needing medical attention & shots by his Veterinarian.  Hank is fine and growing in leaps and bounds since.  Hank having adjusted to our home life and us after 2 months, a volunteer with CWAC Astrid fostering Buddy (Australian Cattle & Border Collie mix) allowed us to watch Buddy for a few days while Astrid attended Agility Trials.

Hank & Buddy played almost none stop, becoming very close friends in such a short time.  Then came the Question, if we wanted to adopt Buddy and without hesitation, we said yes.  CWAC rescued canines Hank & Buddy, that we adopted 7 Apr, now our family is complete and we cannot show our appreciation enough for a second chance for Hank & Buddy and a better life for us all with their friendship, companionship and unconditional love.

The Young's"

Training Tips: Part 2 of Clicker Training

Part 2 of Clicker Training

To refresh your memory, or start at part 1, head on over to Clicker Training

Capturing takes patience and sometimes can take a long time. Ryker will scratch himself on cue. Raygen will sneeze on cue. Rylie will kick her rear legs on cue. Ryddick will bow on cue. All behaviors that I have are captured. The dog does the behavior on its own and you c/t. If you don't have a clicker handy use a marker word and treat. I pretty much don't use the clicker to long and add a verbal cue very early on.

Shaping is for dogs and handlers that are a bit more clicker savvy. It is also called the Thorndike Method. Wait for a behavior to happen, reward the behavior, add a cue while the behavior is happening.

Start by making a plan (in your head). Visualize how the end behavior looks like and break it down into many smaller steps. For example... End behavior is a nose touch to your hand... present the hand near the dogs nose and even the tiniest movement (ear, nose, eyes, muscle) gets a click and a treat (c/t). Sooner or later the dog will figure out that you want his nose to touch the hand.

Some trainers have been rushing Shaping and the steps in training are to big. Kay Laurence, master clicker trainer, started to give it a new name.... micro-shaping. That way nobody can say they didn't understand how small the steps were supposed to be.

Here is a video Astrid has done with her dog Ryker, using shaping to get him to hold a dumbbell. 

 See some of the fun stuff she has taught her dogs! 

Our first Training Tip- CLICKER TRAINING!

Clicker Training

by Astrid Smith CAP1 CTDI TDTC

A Dog's Journey 

Clicker training has been around for many years and is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. All you do is click and treat (c/t) the behavior you want and ignore the behaviors that you don't. You can purchase clickers at most any pet supply store. If physically you are unable to use a clicker, use a marker word such as “yes” or “good”. Using a clicker takes time a patience (for YOU!). At first, you’ll get frustrated with trying to hold the clicker, treats, and a leash. Get a system worked out, and the rest will come with time.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO NEVER USE THE CLICKER TO GET THE DOGS ATTENTION IF THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN'T BE!!

I have been Clicker Training for quite some time now. I started with my horse, but did not use a clicker. I had a marker word, "Good". It was amazing how well it worked. I did not use it a whole lot. Only when we were on a trail and Jack stepped over some tough obstacles. Note: Jack was blind and he would have to concentrate on my jiggles with the reigns and carefully feel for a secure step. I would say "good boy" and he would stop, turn his head to the right and I would lean over and give him a piece of carrot. Way Cool!!

My first dog I clicker trained was Rylie. I did not start out training with a clicker, however, the first time I tried it I was hooked. Raygen, Ryker and Ryddick are all clicker trained and I got better with each dog. There are several ways of training with a clicker: Targeting, Luring, (Capturing, and Shaping  will come later this week).  Depending on what I am trying to train I use all three.

 Targeting (not be mistaken with luring).

First you train the dog to touch the target with his nose. Simply click right as your dogs nose touches the target. To start, use your hand. With an empty hand, move your hand about 10” away from your dogs nose. When you feel that cold nose touch your hand, CLICK AND TREAT (c/t)! Once your dog is consistently touching your hand, try moving it around and add the word “touch”.  I taught my dog Ryddick to heel using a stick that he’d touch the end of. Once he was consistently touching the stick, have the stick in heel position and start moving forward and c/t as soon as dog keeps up with the stick and you. Then you stop suing the stick and start adding the cue for heeling when the dog is in a heel position. It is pretty simple and you can get some very nice heeling.

Luring is another fun way to train with the clicker. A behavior that I teach using the lure method is "crawl". Dog is in a down. I then put a treat in between the dogs legs and slowly pull it away form the dog. As soon as the dog makes the slightest move forward while still on the down, c/t. If you wait to long to c/t, the dog may get up or give up. Add distance an inch at a time. It is important to fade the lure quickly or the dog will get treat dependent. 

Come back in a few days and we'll have a post on Capturing and Luring! Go ahead and start your training NOW! 

Part 2 of clicker training

Help Angel

Hopefully most of you have read Angel's story, if not, go take a peek! For the past few months Angel has been in a great foster home but unfortunately they cannot continue fostering her.

Here is where YOU come in! 

Angel DESPERATELY wants her forever home, she's not a fan of going to those silly PetCo adoptions, and would rather lay in her comfy bed, or go sun-tanning outside instead of having strangers come up and meet her. Even if you are unable to provide Angel a forever home, you could offer her a temporary home! Don't focus of her bum of a leg, this is one happy girl!

 Open your home, and your heart and let this sweet girl stay a while!

Please send us an email at canineswithacause@gmail.com if you'd be interested in helping this girl out.

 This is her "I promise to be on my best behavior" face! And please note: this girl may not win any beauty contests but she'd sure as heck win the Miss Congeniality crown! Plus, you can put her hair in a mohawk!

Angel loves to play with her toys!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Real all about Shaun!

Dear Readers, I would like to introduce you to one of CWAC's trainers, Shaun Woodard with Not For Dogs Only.  Hope you enjoy!! Please leave a comment on the bottom if you have other questions for Shaun!

Coming up this week:

On Saturday 4/7 we will be at the Sugarhouse PetCo where you can come and meet your new best friends that only want their forever homes! This is also a perfect time to drop off any of the things you've been collecting for our wishlist !! 

Some time this week we'll post little get-to-know-you's about our two trainers, Astrid Smith with A Dog's Journey and Shaun Woodard with Not for Dogs Only.

We are getting in two new dogs for the program so of course everybody needs to meet them!

April's first weekly training tip. (you'll have to check back to see who it's from!)

We'll try to get a post on "where they are now", dogs that have been adopted or placed with a veteran and participating in our training program.

Snuggle up with your best friend (human or furry) and hoping wishing everyone a good first week of April! 

They're herrreee!!

HUGE thank you to Cecily Hallman of Be Wise Art for donating her time to snap a few photos of these guys! The girls worked it, and the boys just goofed off. all photos copyright of BeWiseArt. 

Fi was a total HAM for the camera!

Bella worked that camera like no other!

 Smiling girl, cheesing it up in hopes of finding her forever home!

 Oliver may not win any beauty contests but give this little guy a chance and he'll wiggle his way into your heart! He got a new haircut the day after his photo shoot. We'll be sure to get those photos up!

 Wally was a little camera shy but Cecily was able to catch a few of Wally's infamous smiles! Tyra Banks would be proud that he smiles with his eyes too. 

 Wally just wanted to be held. 

Teaser!

Here is a "teaser" photo from the little photo shoot Fiona, Bella, Wally and Oliver had. The girls were totally working the camera while the boys were... well, the boys were boys! Keep checking back for more photos! (Don't worry, we'll also make sure to post to the websites!)

ALSO!!

Oliver is in DESPERATE need of a donated/discounted groom. He is a diamond in the rough right now. Poor guy has really matted ears. Please talk to your groomer or groomer friends to see if they'd be willing to donate their time to make Oli picture perfect!
Not only for Oliver but we would love a go-to groomer because with the long haired dogs, usually they need a good groom before meeting their forever families! 

upcoming things with CWAC

• Tomorrow (3/27) we will be having a guest photographer, Cecily Hallman with Be Wise Art coming to photograph our adoptable dogs.
• We are really trying to rally the foster troops. Come the end of this  month we will be relying solely on our fosters for us to pull animals. We will not be renewing our lease with the current facility and keeping dogs in kennels goes against what we want for our animals. Please see our website for FAQ on fostering. Keep your eye on the blog as well for tips on working with your foster.
• With us losing our current facility we need all eyes on the look-out for a new home for us. What we're ideally looking for is somewhere that has an apartment or living quarters for a caretaker. Maybe a barn or outbuilding that we can make into a training room and build off kennels. 
• By the end of the week we will have at least one post from our trainers Astrid Smith with A Dogs Journey or Shaun Woodard with Not For Dogs Only.
• Last but not least LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!! we always tons going on on good 'ol Facebook!

Canines With a Cause's WISHLIST!!

If you are able to help with any of these supplies please get in touch with us at canineswithacause@gmail.com. We also accept cash donations that would go towards vaccinations and neuter or spay of new dogs. Every time we take in a shelter dog it costs us approximately $75 per dog to get them ready for their new home. We are also going to start the option of "sponsoring"a dog. You make donations to go towards a certain dog; say Fiona, who needs chicken, corn, wheat and soy free dog food and treats. 

She Deserves It. Will You Help?

Help Us Pay for Angel's Surgery

Please help our sweet Angel.  She’s had it rough, but she’s not letting it get her down.  Angel was rescued from the streets of Ventura, California.  While living the life of a stray, Angel was hit by a car.  Her rescuers took her to the vet, but the prognosis wasn’t good: a crushed pelvis that that had already begun to heal and two broken femurs.  With funding low, and facing the prospect of having to re-break Angel’s bones to reconstruct them, the shelter was unable to do much for her.  That’s when she found her way to CWAC.  

Angel’s healing has been remarkable, and she can still get around like a pup, despite losing the use of her right hind leg.  She’s strong and determined, but still in a lot of pain.  Angel has seen some of the best orthopedic veterinarians in Utah, and the good news is, despite the improper healing of her left hip joint and leg and the bone atrophy in her right, it’s not too late to help her.  Angel will need to undergo a tricky surgery to restore use to her right leg.  She will have to have a special steel plate installed, as well as a bone graft to help regenerate growth.  The doctors have told us that the surgery will allow her to bear weight on her right leg again and vastly improve her quality of life.  

Angel is also looking for a loving, gentle foster home to await surgery and to help her heal for her forever home afterwards.  Since she is in so much pain, she would prefer a home without other dogs or children, where life moves at a slower pace and where she can relax.

We need $3000 to get Angel the surgery she needs, and so desperately deserves.  Please consider donating anything you can.